PTA Newsletter

Dear Ross Community,

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week is in full swing! What a beautiful display of flowers this morning from all our Roadrunners.💐May all the teachers and staff enjoy this week and know how appreciated you are.

We have an exciting Ross community event coming up the day after tomorrow: Walk/Roll to School Day! My Roadrunners are very excited about this event, and the donuts--definitely the donuts🤣. Get your shoes, bike, scooter, or hoverboard ready and meet us at the corner of 15th and R on Thursday at 7:50 am.

If you haven't already gotten tickets for one of our Ross soccer nights, there is still time! See below for all the details. Hope to see you on a bike or at a soccer match this week! :)

🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♂️

-Aimee

Spring Walk/Roll to Scholl Day will take place this Thursday, May 14 at the corner of 15th and R Streets NW. Please meet us there at 7:50 with your bicycle, scooter, big wheel, or your own two feet as we parade down R Street to Ross.

We will be led by members of the DC Police Department on their motorcycles. They will be followed by several Ross students carrying a new banner announcing the event to the neighborhood. We will be joined by representatives of the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) on their trail bikes along with one of the Washington Nationals presidents! The event will conclude at Ross with Krispy Kreme donuts and fresh coffee.

All adults on bicycles are encouraged to participate and help with shepherding our Ross kiddos to Ross. If you have any questions, please contact Joseph Jones at mwcumd@icloud.com or 202-375-9859.

Cheer on D.C. United as they take on the St. Louis City SC on Saturday, May 16th at 7:30 PM! Watch the Black-and-Red tear it up on the pitch!

This is the moment the stadium comes alive, the crowd surges, and the entire community shows up together and we’re pulling out all the stops to make this a can’t‑miss event for your friends and families. Between the entertainment, the energy in the building, and the match on the pitch, this is the game you absolutely do not want to miss.

Every ticket purchased $3 goes towards Ross Elementary School PTA! Get yours here today!

For groups of 10 or more, please email Quentin Johnson at qjohnson@dcunited.com

Get ready to cheer on the Washington Spirit as they take on the Seattle Reign! We are excited to announce a special Ross Elementary School night at the stadium on Saturday, May 30th. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy a professional soccer match with friends and family while supporting our school. The best part? $3.00 from every ticket purchased goes directly to the Ross PTA! The donation is already included in the price, so all you have to do is grab your seats and show up in your Spirit (or Ross!) gear.

• When: Saturday, May 30, 6:30 PM

• Where: Audi Field

• Tickets: Starting at $25

• Buy Tickets Here: Ross ES Fundraising Link

We’re excited to combine our Annual End-of-Year Picnic with a new addition: International Family Night! Join us on Thursday, June 4, from 5:00-7:00pm at Stead for a fun evening of food, activities, music, and cultural sharing.

We invite Ross families and staff to host a table representing a country or region to share simple traditions like food, flags, clothing, games, or customs that showcase what makes your culture special. We’ll provide the tables, and you can keep it as easy or creative as you’d like.

We will also provide pizza, kabobs, shaved ice from Clayboys, face painting, balloon artists, and more.

We already have seven countries signed up. Help us reach 15! Adding your table makes a real difference, and teaming up with other families from the same country/region is a great (and easy) option.

To participate, please include this information and email it to Laura Aragon. Her address is below.

· Your name

· Student’s name

· Country/region you’d like to represent

· A favorite song/artist from your region

· Email

· Any other comments or support you may need

Remember that food must be nut-free and labeled. Sign up, help organize, or reach out with questions about international stands, email: lau.aragon@gmail.com

Can you help set up, clean up, hand out pizza or donate food, deserts or drinks? If so, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA8AA2AA2FEC61-63990129-ross#/

Teachers and staff enjoyed handmade cards from students and a catered breakfast from Tatte yesterday, and were gifted gorgeous vases of flowers from our many grateful Roadrunners today. Tomorrow, a catered lunch from Chopt and 10-minute massages will be provided, and teachers and staff will enjoy gift cards, treats, and a Happy Hour. On Friday, teacher/staff discounts will be offered for our Ross swag and gear. We are so thankful for our teachers and staff and hope you enjoy this week. Thank you to the many volunteers who helped make all of this happen!

If we’re going to deliver the programs, events, and support that make Ross such a strong community, we need parents and caregivers to step into leadership roles for next year. As we head into our upcoming PTA and LSAT elections, it’s important to note that many positions remain unfilled—and no roles are spoken for—so there is both real need and real opportunity for volunteers to get involved.

The Ross Elementary School PTA, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the school and relies on volunteers to lead the organization, is accepting nominations for positions on the Executive Board for the 2026–2027 school year. Please review the descriptions and nominate yourself or another person to fill these open Ross PTA Executive Board positions. Nominations are due by Friday, May 29, 2026.

We also are accepting nominations for the Ross Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) for school year 2026-2027. The LSAT is a group of parents/guardians, teachers, non-instructional staff members, and community members who meet monthly to advise the principal on school priorities. A diversity of perspectives and experiences is important to a successful LSAT experience, as we want to make sure our school leaders hear from a variety of voices that are representative of the overall school community.

Parents/Guardians will nominate and then vote on 4 representatives. You may nominate as many individuals as you would like, as well as self-nominate, but please try to confirm others' interest in advance. Nominations and elections for the teachers and non-instructional staff members are handled by the union representatives. Community members and student representatives are asked to join by consensus once the other LSAT members are determined. The nomination form for the Ross LSAT is available here. Please nominate by Wednesday, May 27.

Elections for the PTA Executive Board and Ross LSAT will be held at the last PTA general body meeting of the year on Tuesday, June 9 at 7:00pm (virtual meeting).

Please contact Melanie Mayhew at ptapresident@rosselementary.org with any questions.

Join the DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education for “From Conflict to Collaboration: Informal Resolution for Schools and Families,” a free virtual training.

This session is open to all community members, families, school staff, and anyone invested in supporting students. Together, we’ll explore how school-based conflict can become an opportunity to repair relationships, uncover root causes, and foster compassionate curiosity. Effective conflict management begins with a genuine desire to understand, not because it’s easy, but because relationships are worth it.

We’ll discuss what conflict is, why it happens, and how to navigate it informally, always keeping students’ best interests at the center. Participants will also learn how the Ombudsman’s Office supports families and schools through informal resolution processes designed to address educational concerns collaboratively and constructively. Whether you're seeking tools, clarity, or connection, this session offers a welcoming space to build confidence and community. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity—register today!

This training will be held on Zoom on Monday, May 18, 2026, from 7 PM to 8 PM. Registrants will receive the Zoom link an hour or two before the training.

Join other dads from the neighborhood tonight at 7:00 pm for this month's Dads of Dupont Happy Hour! Join other fathers for support and camaraderie (and a FREE round of beer!) at ECHO BOX (1633 Q St NW). All dads from the neighborhood (from Ross to daycares to the playground) are invited to attend. For updates or questions, please join the DoD WhatsApp group or email PK4 dad Justin Thornton.

Registration for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) spring programming started today, May 12, 2026, for aquatics programs and will open tomorrow, May 13, 2026, for all other programs. Registration opens at noon both days. To register, you must first create an account on the DPR website and can find a full list of programs on the DPR Programs website. Remember to complete the online reduced rates application before registering if you qualify for discounted pricing. Register here!

The National Postal Museum's STAMP Camp has been such a hit the past couple of years, they are bringing it back for another summer of virtual adventures! The free program is designed to bring STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) conveniently to your inbox, giving kids online activities to enjoy at home.

What is STAMP Camp?
S.T.A.M.P stands for Science, Technology, Art, Math, and Problem-solving — and this free virtual camp delivers hands-on activities straight from the National Postal Museum, all through email. STAMP Camp is fully digital and free, making it accessible to everyone, everywhere. Each week of activities connects postal history with STEAM learning through museum objects , hands-on projects, and engaging challenges.

How It Works:

1. Sign up for free here!

2. Receive five weeks of activities in your e-mail inbox throughout June, July, and August.

3. All activities are emailed directly to you — easy to share and explore at home.

4. Complete at your own pace — whenever, wherever.

Weekly Themes + Smithsonian Partners:

June 3 – Science with the National Museum of Natural History: Travel back in time to discover dinosaurs and other ancient life through stamps and paleontology.

June 17 – Technology with the National Portrait Gallery: Explore how stamps and portraiture celebrate and teach us about the groundbreaking scientists behind space exploration.

July 1 – Art with the National Museum of the American Indian: Identify how art can tell stories and communicate big ideas through an exploration into formline art and the Raven story on Stamps.

July 15 – Math with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings: Curious about rhythm and blues? Explore how stamps make bluegrass visual, instrument traditions, rhythmic patterns, and beginner music notation.

July 29 – Problem Solving and Engineering with the Smithsonian American Art Museum & Renwick Gallery: Jump into the world of the U.S. State and County Fairs stamps and uncover the clever tricks behind amazing creations like the Renwick Gallery’s legendary butter cow

+ Perfect for kids ages 6–12 (with adult support).
+ Registration is required by a parent or guardian.

STAMP Camp starts June 3, 2026 – don’t miss out on this creative, curiosity-fueled summer!

DCPS School Year 2025-26 Calendar

Key Dates for Ross Families

Week of May 11-15: Ross celebrates Staff Appreciation Week

Monday, May 11: Lock down drill (PK has opt out, contact Ms. Segovia)

Tuesday, May 12: May LSAT Meeting (5:15pm, virtual)

Thursday, May 14: Walk/Roll to School Day

Friday, May 15: Theatre performance (Grades 4-5 at Spooky Action Theater)

Monday, May 25: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day Holiday

Thursday, May 28: Ross Field Day for K-5, Scholastic Book Fair in Library

Saturday, May 30: Incoming PK/K playdate (Ross playground, school/classroom visits)

Thursday, June 4: Grades 4/5 Calleva Rafting Trip (school day), PTA End of Year Picnic at Stead Park

Week of June 8: Class Auction Parties

Tuesday, June 9: PTA General Body Meeting (includes LSAT Elections)

Thursday, June 11: Final Learning Celebrations (9:00am in classrooms)

Friday, June 12: School wide Morning Meeting (on field at 8:40am), Ross Musical Dress/Tech Rehearsal

Saturday, June 13: Ross Musical "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." at Keegan Theatre, 4:00pm

Sunday, June 14: Ross Musical "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." at Keegan Theatre, 7:00pm

Monday, June 15: 5th Grade Promotion (10:00am at Sumner School)

Tuesday, June 16: NO SCHOOL, Primary Election Day

Thursday, June 18: Last Day of School

About the Ross PTA

The mission of the Ross PTA is to support the education of all Ross students, to support Ross faculty and staff, to foster relationships among parents, staff and community members, and to assist faculty and staff to provide a safe and nurturing environment where all students, families and faculty can thrive and grow.

Email: PTApresident@rosselementary.org
Website: http://rosselementary.org/pta
Location: 1730 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202.673.7200

If this email was forwarded to you, subscribe to Ross PTA emails here.

Do you have updates or announcements that you think would be of interest to our school community? If so, please email me here.